Dog friendly Vacation Tips

June 22, 2019

Tips for Dog friendly Vacations

If my son, Cameron, had his way we’d be the proud owner of a giant dog. The bigger and furrier the better as far as he’s concerned. I’ve been telling him “No” for years and winning. My strategies have included using an arsenal of arguments which include “you’re allergic” and “it would mean we couldn’t travel as much as we do.”

For a
while, it worked.

But
as he’s gotten older, he’s become aware of the fact that there are
hypo-allergenic options. And soon, my second argument won’t work either.

What
to do with your pet when you go on vacation.

It
used to be that having a pet meant choosing between it and your vacation. Dog
Kennels are big business. And the cost of checking Fido in for a week can often
rival the vacation costs of the family leaving him. I know many families who,
upon finding out how much it will cost to board their dog for a few days, have
opted instead to forego a vacation altogether.

Others
struggle to find friends or neighbours willing to watch their pet while they’re
away or worry that their dog isn’t receiving the same kind of love and
affection they’re used to.

Who
can enjoy a vacation with all of that stress and guilt?

Should
you Take your Pet on Vacation

The
obvious answer would seem to be that you should bring your pet with you on
vacation. But that isn’t always easy either.

Making the decision of whether to carry your dog with you is a big one. The right choices can make it the best vacation ever. The wrong ones can ruin the holiday for everyone.

By Car:

If you’re travelling by road, things can be more comfortable. Your dog may already be used to being in the car. A few practice runs of shorter distances might be all they need to be ready for a big adventure. It’s essential, of course, to remember that If you’re crossing a border, you will need to make sure you understand the requirements of the destination you’re travelling to. If you’re crossing into the United States from Canada, this might help: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html

By Flight:

And if you’re opting to take your pet on a flight, you’ll want to make sure you’ve looked into how the airline will treat your furry family member. Smaller dogs may be allowed in a carrier on the plane under the seat in front of you. (That’ll rule out exit and bulkhead rows for you.) In most cases, larger dogs will be handled as cargo under the belly of the plane. Some dogs (and their owners) are okay with that, but if it makes you uncomfortable, you may want to reconsider your multi-layover routing. Note that If you would prefer that your larger animal have the same treatment (or better) that you get in the air, there might be – depending on your destination – another option. Pet Airways (https://www.petairways.com/ ) is an animal transportation-only airline.

Whichever
option you choose you’ll want to always keep your pet’s demeanour and emotions
top of mind. Talk to your vet as you make your plans. They’ll be able to offer
advice specific to your animal about how best to get them ready for travel.

Dog Friendly
Vacations

One
of the things getting easier for pet-owner travellers is finding places to stay
where your dog will be a happy guest. It would be so terrible to go through all
the effort of getting to your vacation destination, only to find your dog
wasn’t welcome.

Hotels
that Welcome Dogs

A
quick google search or call to the concierge of properties you’re considering
will help you find dog friendly properties.

Here
are a few dog-friendly properties to consider as well:

Fairmont
Hotels and Resorts

Each
hotel and resort has rules about pet visits. Most have a set fee for per night
accommodation and guidelines on where within the property pets are permitted.
If you haven’t brought your pet with you, you can also inquire about hanging
out with one of Fairmont’s Canine Ambassadors.

Sierra
Nevada Resort & Spa, California

At Sierra Nevada Resort & Spa, the family
dog is invited to join in on the fun on hiking trails in the Mammoth Lakes area
of California. Think how much your dog will enjoy all the dog-friendly
opportunities with long sunny days and cooler mountain air. Plus, the location
puts you close to Devils Postpile National Monument, Convict, Crowley and Mono
Lakes and Yosemite National Park.

According
to the resort:

“Pet-friendly
rooms and chalets are limited, so it’s good for guests travelling with the
family dog to book early. The lodge welcomes dogs up to 100 pounds for an
additional cleaning fee of $25 per dog, per day, with a two-dog maximum per
room.”

Your
pooch can even join you as you take in a brew (or two) at Duke’s Bar, named
after John Wayne, who frequented the location back in the ’60s with his hunting
and fishing buddies.

Les
Ilets de la Plage, Saint Barths

What pup doesn’t deserve a trip to St. Barths? A stay at Les Ilets de la Plage is perfect for pets. The affordable, family-owned beach resort has 12 private villas – all boasting direct access to the beach. Plus, as a pet-friendly resort, they’ll help you understand what you need to know and do if you’d like to bring your dog with you. Pet amenities include cushions, bowls and treats to make furry visitors feel right at home! https://lesilets.com/

See
what I mean? So many options.

One
thing to note: While many hotels now allow for dogs at their property, they
aren’t all created equal.

Just a boy with a dog he wishes was his.

Some questions to ask a dog friendly property:

Take
the time to investigate any hotel you’re considering. Some questions to ask
include:

• Are there limited accommodations for pets?

• What amenities are included, and which cost
extra?

• Is there a deposit required for staying
with your pet? Is there an accommodation fee for your pet?

• Is there a limit on how many pets can be on
property at a time?

• Are there pet-friendly parks and amenities
nearby?

• Is there a vet close to the property?

Where are the off-leash parks?

A Few More Things to Consider for a Dog Friendly Vacation:

Identification tags with contact information for the place you’re visiting

If you’re road tripping, consider marking a map with where to find vets along the route your taking

What things can you leave at home (to lighten your packing load) because the hotel will provide them?

Knowing the veterinary options in the areas you’re visiting is key. Think ahead: Do you have access to your pet’s medicine and medical records?

What happens if there’s an emergency ?

If I were a pet owner, I’d be worried about what would happen to my furry friend if I got injured or sick while we were away from home. While I always make sure we have travel insurance for our family when we’re travelling, I wasn’t sure if it offers any benefits for a pet that might be joining us on the trip. I asked Dan Keon, Vice President, Market Management at Allianz Global Assistance Canada.

Plans with Emergency Medical benefits (for the pet owner) may also include coverage to return your pet back to Canada if you are hospitalized and need to be medically repatriated to Canada by air ambulance or commercial airline.

“For
some, the best way to avoid missing their favourite furry friend while away
from home is to bring them along for the adventure! For those who choose to
travel with their pets, travel insurance can offer some useful benefits,” he
points out.

“Plans with Emergency Medical benefits (for the pet owner) may also include coverage to return your pet back to Canada if you are hospitalized and need to be medically repatriated to Canada by air ambulance or commercial airline.

Even
if you opt to travel without your pet, your travel insurance could help, he continued.

“Depending on the provider and policy, travel insurance plans with Trip Cancellation/Delay coverage may include reimbursement up to a certain dollar limit for extended animal boarding if a trip is delayed beyond the original return date due to a covered reason in the policy.”

“In addition, [some] plans may include reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs to board your pet that’s travelling with you, if you are hospitalized beyond your original return date. As always, it’s important for travellers to review their policy of insurance before leaving to understand what’s covered, including any dollar limits for specific benefits, as well as what’s not covered. If anything is unclear, contact your insurance provider who will be happy to answer any questions you have.”

My recent solo trip to Quebec City included the chance to make new friends.

Where to find more dog friendly vacation information

This
is by no means an exhaustive list of pet travel options. There are plenty of
operators and sets out there ready and willing to help you do everything from
offering advice to planning your trip. A few to peek at:

About Heather

Heather is a Contributing Editor for National Geographic Traveler magazine, sits on the advisory board for the Family Travel Association, and is a columnist for Lexpert Magazine. For over 20 years she has written articles for The Toronto Star. She also contributes to a host of media outlets in print, on television, on radio and online. When not chasing children out of her office or convincing her family that cold weather destinations should be outlawed, she enjoys movie marathons and musicals she can sing along to.